The Yorubas are one of the three major tribes in the southwestern part of Nigeria. In the past centuries prior to the colonization of Nigeria by the British, the capital of the Yoruba people used to be Oyo which controlled the kingdom of all subtribes of the Yoruba people such as the Ijebus, Egbas, Aworis, Ilajes, Ekiti, Ife, Modakeke, Owus and many others even reaching the Ketu now part of the present-day francophone country, Benin Republic.
The Egba people are one of the Yoruba sub-ethnic groups comprising of Ake, Owu, Oke Ona and Gbagura in Ogun Central Senatorial district which is divided into six local government areas, namely, Abeokuta North, Abeokuta South, Ewekoro, Ifo, Obafemi Owode and Odeda local governments. The Egba people migrated from the Oyo Kingdom to the Egba forests now Abeokuta, Ogun state. The Egba subdivisions of Ake, Owu, Oke Ona and Gbagura are ruled by different kings namely Alake of Egbaland, Olowu of Owu, Oshile of Oke Ona and the Agura of Gbagura Kingdom respectively. Lisabi was a native of Itoku in Abeokuta and he resided at Igbein during his time. Lisabi’s feat as a warrior and a leader prompted the Egba people to reserve the right of Balogun of Egbaland to people from Igbein. As part of the annual Lisabi festival celebrations, Egba people led by the Alake of Egbaland always march to the Lisabi Sacred Forest (Igbo Lisabi) where the Hero reported disappeared in Oba village, Obafemi/Owode Local Government, Ogun State to pay obeisance to the Egba Hero.

History of Lisabi Agbongbo Akala
Between 1770 and 1780, the Oyo King, the Alaafin of Oyo being the head of the Yoruba government usually sent out his tribute collectors, the Ilaris to collect taxes or tributes from all the Yoruba tribes under his domain from time to time. These tributes did not seat well with the Egba people based in Abeokuta (present day Ogun state) because to the excesses of the Ilaris but everyone feared the might of the Oyo army and the Alaafin. Lisabi Agbongbo Akala observed that it will not be easy to convince people to fight for their freedom from these tributes and become independent.
Hence, Lisabi devised a plan to free his people from the hold of the Oyo Empire. First, he started a cooperative for farmers called “Egbe Aro” to help the improve their yields by working together on each other’s farms in rotation weekly. According to historical accounts, Lisabi assisted farmers on their farms ensuring that he worked really hard but when it was time for these farmers to return the favor, he asked them to team up with him to fight the Ilaris in return for his services. After he had convinced all the farmers, they planned and executed a shocking attack that annihilated 600 Ilaris in 1780.
Following the revolt, the Alaafin sent an army to teach the Egba people a lesson but they were subsequently defeated, thereby ending the years of paying tributes to the Alaafin of Oyo. Lisabi was also proactive enough to build walls and trenches around prominent cities in Egba kingdom around that time to prevent attacks from external forces, he also formed an alliance with the Oke-Ogun people to fight the Dahomey amazon warriors. After defeating the Oyo Empire, Lisabi mysteriously disappeared in the Egba Forest now called Igbo Lisabi. His disappearance was a myth and it further solidify his status as a semi-god and he has been celebrated as such ever since.
This feat by Lisabi was revered at the time and to this day, he is a man that was highly honored by Egba sons and daughters as they are called Egba, Omo Lisabi which means Egba, child of Lisabi. Lisabi was also acknowledge in the Egba Anthem composed by Cannon Josiah Jesse Ransome-Kuti (The popular Afro-music pioneer’s; Fela Anikulapo Ransome-Kuti’s grandfather) on June 27, 1922;

Egba Anthem
Verse 1
Lori Oke ati petele
Nibe l’agbe bi mi si O
Nibe l’agbe to mi dagba O
Ile Ominira
Emi o f’Abeokuta s’ogo
Ngo duro, l’ori Olumo
Maa yo l’oruko Egba O
Emi Omo Lisabi
Verse 2
Abeokuta Ilu Egba
Ngo ni gbagbe re
Ngo gbe o leke okan mi
B’ilu Odo Oya
Emi o maa yo l’ori Olumo
Emi o s’ogo yi l’okan mi
Wipe Ilu olokiki O
L’awa omo Egba ngbe
Chorus
Ma yo, ma yo, ma yo o,
L’ori Olumo
Ma yo, ma yo, ma yo o,
L’ori Olumo
Egba Anthem In English
Verse 1
Atop the mountains and the valleys
there, I was born
Such is the place where I was bred and brought up
the land of freedom.
I will make Abeokuta my glory
I will stand tall on Olumo Rock
Rejoice in the name of Egba
I, a child of Lisabi.
Verse 2
Abeokuta, the Land of the Egba
I will never forget you
I will etch you on my heart
Like the land beyond the Niger River
I will continue to rejoice on top of Olumo Rock
I will make this glory in my heart
that it is in a famous town
that the Egba people dwell
Chorus
Rejoice, rejoice, rejoice
on Olumo Rock
Rejoice, rejoice, rejoice
atop the Rock of Olumo

The 37th Lisabi Festival
For the past 37 years, Lisabi Festival is celebrated by Egba annually in Abeokuta with pride and cultural activities that brings the Egba people together home and in the diaspora. Lisabi festival among the Egba people emphasizes leadership, selflessness, unity, cooperation and entrepreneurship in all aspects of the celebration in the memory of what Lisabi accomplished centuries ago. The celebration usually takes place between late February and early March of every year. The theme of the Lisabi Festival was “Encouraging Youth in Agricultural Business: A Panacea to Solving Unemployment in Nigeria.” According to the Alake of Egbaland, the 37th Lisabi Festival promotes selflessness, leadership, education and entrepreneurship that is already inherent among Egba sons and daughters.
In preparation for the 37th Lisabi Day celebration, the Executive Chairman, Abeokuta North Local Government, Prince Adebayo Abudulsalam Ayorinde declared open the 37th edition of the Pre — Annual Lisabi Day Festival with Ayo Olopon competition which is a Yoruba board game. Alhaji K. A. Adedo and Alhaji I. A Babarinsa were both representatives of the Lisabi Day Committee monitored the events. Part of the gifts presented to the winners and the runner-ups includes Egba people’s local fabric, Adire and cash. The competition’s grand finale was held on Wednesday, March 6th, 2024 at the Palace of the Alake of Egba Land, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The 37th Lisabi Day was celebrated on the 6th to the 13th of March, 2024. The festival was celebrated and hosted by three of the main monarchs in Egba Kingdom, Alake and Paramount ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, Olowu of Owu Kingdom, Oba Saka Matemilola and Osile of Oke-Ona Egba, Oba Adedapo Tejuoso. They all stressed the need for unity and commitment to selflessness among sons and daughters of the ancient Egbaland as factors required to achieve development of any society.
The throne of the Agura of Gbagura was recently vacant hence the absence of king of Gbagura land. The late Chief Buraimoh Olaleye Tairu was honored at the 2024 festival, by Oba Gbadebo, who praised the Hero of the Year as a worthy Egba son. Chief Tairu happened to be the grandfather of Nigerian’s former High commissioner to the United Kingdom, Ambassador Sarafa Tunji Isola. Tairu served Egbaland honorably as the Otun of Egbaland before his demise. Chief Buraimoh Olaleye Tairu (Balogun of Ilugun 1906–1913, Otunba of Egbaland 1907–1913, Member, Egba United Government 1907–1913) played an important role in the development of Egba land in relating with Sir Walter Egerton who was the Governor and Commander in chief over the southern Nigeria colony through an agreement signed on the 18th of November, 1909. Seaman’s Schnapps sponsored the 37th Lisabi Festival.


Lisabi Day Festival Celebrations
Lisabi Festival is a seven days event that usually holds around February and March every year. The celebration is celebrated at prominent places in Abeokuta such as the Olumo Rock for traditional prayers for the Egba Kingdom by the Alake of Egbaland, Quiz competition at Centenary Hall, Exhibitions at Ake palace, Lisabi football competition at the M.K.O. Abiola stadium at Kuto, Abeokuta, procession to “Igbo Lisabi” (Lisabi Forest) by Egba Kings, Chiefs, Baales (sub chiefs), Egba personalities and invited guest as well as the youths.
Also, Jumat prayers are held at the Central Mosque, Kobiti, Abeokuta on Friday during the week-long festival while the grand finale is on Saturday with the “Woro” dancers drumming and dancing from various parts of the city, culminating at the Ake Palace Ground. Following the cultural exhibits, the public pays respect to the paramount king in groups, including social clubs, associations, Chiefs, and Baales. The Egba National Association presents bursaries in the US and Canada, and there are speeches, music, and social entertainment to celebrate the occasion. This aspect of the event is usually attended by the governor of Ogun state, his cabinet members and representatives from the Federal Government of Nigeria. On the final day of the festival, Sunday, a thanksgiving ceremony at the cathedral of St. Peter, Ake, Abeokuta for Christian faithful however at midnight, there is a ritual involving the Oro masquerade procession at midnight (it is a taboo for women to see this masquerade as it may bring about consequences such as infertility or insanity).


Lisabi’s Relevance in Egbaland in Modern times
A movie depicting Lisabi’s heroic achievement is being packaged by seasoned Yoruba Nollywood actor, Lateef Adedimeji. Lisabi story has been featured in theatrical performances and a biopic depicting the life of a foremost Egba daughter, Mrs. Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti was titled, The Lioness of Lisabi. The Egba people has continued to produce many activists that have influenced Nigeria in different ways, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Mrs. Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, Dr. Olikoye Ransome-Kuti, and Prof. Wole Soyinka as well as Leaders such as Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Chief Ernest Sonekan, Chief M.K.O. Abiola and Prof. Adeoye Lambo, former Vice Chairman of WHO.
Conclusion
Lisabi has always been celebrated for more than a century since his disappearance in the sacred forest but these celebrations have been documented for 37 years now in recent times. The festival celebrating a Hero showcase the enduring spirit of the Egba people. The story of Lisabi and his remembrance underscores the values of leadership, unity, and cultural pride, drawing Egba descendants from across the globe to honor their heritage and the heroic legacy of Lisabi Agbongbo Akala. The festival not only commemorates historical achievements but also fosters community spirit and promotes the cultural and economic development of Egbaland.